The ToHa building– a striking, 29-story structure located in the center of Tel Aviv–was completed this year. Its unique faceted design, shaped like an iceberg, was designed by Ron Arad with local architect, Avner Yashar. The ToHa building serves as a unique office complex outfitted with a public garden, an observation deck, and a restaurant.
More than 28,000 square meters of Dekton® by Cosentino clad the structure, appearing on the ventilated facades, flooring, elevators, ceilings, and interior partitions. The Dekton pieces, fabricated in 10,000 varied shapes, were produced and cut at the Cosentino headquarters in Spain before being transported by sea to Israel.
Throughout the design process, builders aimed to carve out space for a large park at street level, to add to the character of the neighborhood. In line with this goal, the building emerges atop two large legs that twist and widen gradually. Dekton® is available in a large range of formats and thicknesses, therefore the surface is a perfect fit for complex projects requiring great precision. In the building’s intermediate levels, the jagged perimeter of the concrete slabs is clad with panels measuring 12 millimeters thick and 2 meters wide which, with their careful detailing, define the vertices and edges to convey an image of perfection.
From the functional point of view, this ambitious project inverts the organization of the conventional office block, placing all the infrastructure and machinery on the first several floors to clear the roof. The roof serves as an open, public space and houses an upscale restaurant with views of Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean Sea. The offices start at the seventh floor, and enjoy sunlight and views of the city. The technical levels are clad with a unique, permeable facade of cross-mounted panels, creating an ‘X’ pattern. This arrangement allows air to pass through the gaps between the large slabs (320 x 70 cm), and produce a uniform front that gives the facade texture and depth. Cosentino also offered the option of producing a range of six custom colors based on the Strato model, creating a striking color gradient from the bottom to the top.
Inside, a large 30-meter atrium functions as a lobby and gathering place. The office spaces look outside towards the city, through the glass facade, and also feature views of the central courtyard illuminated by a large skylight. The finishes have been carefully selected to create a comfortable workspace and a coherent corporate image. The possibility of manufacturing large-scale Dekton pieces for floors, walls, and ceilings reduces the number of joints to a minimum, creating smooth continuity.
